Peace barriers project ends After 12 years

The IMAGINE Peace Barriers Project (IPBP), which was established in January 2014 and was funded by the International Fund for Ireland (IFI), has ended. 

The cross-community initiative brought together representatives of Lower Oldpark Community Association (LOCA) and Cliftonville Community and Regeneration Forum (CCRF) and, when it ended in March 2026, had four posts.

LOCA understands that in the region of £1.5 million has been spent on the project over its duration, and that the IFI decided not to extend its funding beyond the planned end date of 31st March 2026.

During the latter part of 2025, LOCA Committee concerns over the IPBP increased substantially. There was also growing concern among Lower Oldpark residents, some of whom expressed these at a public meeting in December 2025.

In response, LOCA Committee wrote to the IFI on 19th December 2025 to formally bring its attention to a number of serious concerns regarding the IPBP. The issues that LOCA highlighted related to:

•The submission of a development proposal for a meanwhile use sensory garden/ pop-up café to Belfast City Council Planning without being seen by LOCA Committee or with its agreement. 

•The meanwhile use development proposal having been submitted to the Planning Department by the IPBP before a planned door-to-door consultation of Lower Oldpark residents on whether they supported the meanwhile use proposals could be carried out by LOCA.

•The failure of the IPBP to provide hard evidence of consultations and support for the IPBP proposal to develop a permanent social enterprise building across the peace wall at Cliftonpark Avenue.

• The submission to LOCA by the IPBP Co-ordinator/ CCRF of a series of untrue and damaging allegations against LOCA staff.

• The failure of IPBP/ CCRF to formally notify LOCA that the Peace Barriers Worker responsible for Lower Oldpark had left her post or to provide any formal explanation for their departure.

After this, LOCA informed CCRF that LOCA would not be participating in the Imagine Peace Barriers Project initiative beyond 31st March 2026.

The IFI did not respond to LOCA’s letter of 19th December 2025 until after LOCA sent a follow-up letter on 10th February 2026. In its response, the IFI did not address any of the concerns LOCA had raised and referred LOCA to the IPBP partner.

LOCA replied to the IFI on 1st April 2026 saying that its approach had been disappointing and unhelpful. Also, that it was the failure of Peace Barriers Project staff to provide information to LOCA that led the group to contact the IFI. LOCA also requested details of  

the opportunity it would have to contribute to an end of project evaluation.

In its response dated 1st April 2026, the IFI stated that all programmes under the current IFI strategy, including PBP, are currently ending and the final evaluation of the current strategy has already been completed. No further information was provided.

The IFI letter concluded, IFI considers this matter has been sufficiently addressed and please be advised that any additional correspondence received will be noted, but no further response will be received.

In the light of the above, LOCA would welcome an independent evaluation of the IMAGINE Peace Barriers Project with an opportunity for LOCA and the people of Lower Oldpark to make a meaningful contribution. 

During visits by the Minister for Communities, Gordon Lyons, to Lower Oldpark on 8th May 2025 and 23rd April 2026, LOCA lobbied for the development of social housing on the ‘Bonfire Site’ adjacent to Mountview Street and the Oldpark Road Peace Wall.

These requests for social housing on the Bonfire Site reflect the views expressed by Lower Oldpark residents during a survey carried out by LOCA during the first half of 2025.

LOCA requested that a social housing scheme on the ‘Bonfire Site’ is included on the NIHE managed Social Housing Development Programme.

The ‘Bonfire Site’ has been vacant for about 15 years. It is used for the annual 12th July bonfire, but it has also been the location for regular dumping of rubbish. 

This fly-tipping has created health hazards for local people, and particularly children, as well has helping to make the area look run down.

LOCA’s efforts to secure the development of social housing on the site are being supported by the BUILD Shankill initiative. LOCA and BUILD Shankill have met with a housing association which has expressed an interest in building social homes on the site.

LOCA has also sought and secured support from local political representatives Brian Kingston MLA.

In recent weeks, LOCA has been contacted by a number of residents about discarded drug use needles found on the streets across Lower Oldpark. 

LOCA contacted Belfast City Council's Sharps Team about the needles. The Sharps Team safely collected and removed the needles.

Discarded needles seems to be an increasing problem in the Lower Oldpark neighbourhood. They pose a danger to residents, particularly children as well as pets.

If you, or a member of your family, sees a drugs' needle or other drugs related material lying on public space, Belfast City Council (BCC) advises that you do not touch it.

You can call BCC on 028 9027 0469 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm) or email sharps@belfastcity.gov.uk to report the location.

You can call BCC on 07850 499622 in the evening, at weekends or over public holidays.

If you prefer, you can contact the LOCA Housing and Regeneration Worker, Gary Hughes, and he will report the discarded needle or other drugs material to the Council. 

Gary can be contacted as follows:

- Phone: 028 96928293 or 028 90351334.
- Mobile: 077 13990976.
- Email: loweroldparkhousing@gmail.com .
- Facebook message. @loweroldparkhousing

When reporting discarded material, please provide clear information  on where it is located and what is included.

BCC advises that it does not dispose of needles or other waste on private land, including houses, gardens or businesses.

The 12 social houses being built by Clanmil Housing at Alloa Street in Lower Oldpark are anticipated to be finished by the end of November 2024.

The development includes 7 three-bedroom houses and 1 three-bedroom bungalow, along with 3 two-bedroom houses and 1 two-bedroom bungalow.

As well as providing much needed new homes, the development represents important physical regeneration on one Lower Oldpark’s remaining vacant and undeveloped sites. 

The new  housing is a mark of progress but much remains to be done.

The NIHE Patch Manager for Lower Oldpark, Martin Coney, will be holding a surgery on Thursday 21st March to help NIHE tenants with any problems they have and to answer their questions.

The surgery will take place in Lower Oldpark Community Centre in Avoca Street between 11.00am and 12.00pm.

Martin will be dealing with those who come along on a first come first served basis.

Recent publicly about the trouble at the Lower Oldpark/ Girdwood interface has highlighted the ongoing and long term suffering of the people of the area.

Video images of large groups of youths running through Lower Oldpark sometimes causing damage to homes and property but always causing fear and stress, particularly for the elderly and children, creates an urgent need for effective and permanent solutions to a problem that just hasn’t gone away. 

The first and most important objective must be to end this ongoing nightmare for the people of Lower Oldpark. It is also true that the young people involved in these activities are putting their own safety and futures at risk. In addition, if this violence does not end on a permanent basis, how will the physical regeneration schemes planned for Cliftonpark Avenue ever be successful.

There is a solution available that allows Girdwood to remain open and accessible and at the same time reduce the potential for gangs of youths escaping through Girdwood grounds after engaging in trouble at Alloa Street and Lower Oldpark. 

This solution would involve the Girdwood gate opposite Alloa Street remaining open on week days until 5.00pm and then being closed (road and pedestrian gates) until the Girdwood Centre opens in the morning. This gate would also be closed at the weekend. 

The other Cliftonpark Avenue access gate near Brucevale could, as at present, remain open at all times. This would mean that there would be easy access for anyone wishing to access Cliftonpark Avenue from Girdwood. 

Residents from Lower Oldpark wishing to access Girdwood after 5.00pm and at weekends would have a short walk to the Brucevale end gate.

The above represents an attempt to deal with a long-term problem that must be addressed effectively and permanently. 

Feedback would be welcome. Email loweroldparkhousing@gmail.com or Facebook private message @loweroldparkhousing .

NIHE Patch Manager, Martin Coney, will be holding monthly advice surgeries for NIHE tenants in Lower Oldpark.

The surgeries will be held on the last Friday of each month between 11.00am and 1.00pm at Lower Oldpark Community Association premises at 9-21 Avoca Street. The first surgery was held on Friday 26th January 2024 and the next will be on 23rd February. People will be seen on a first come first served basis. For more information, contact NIHE Patch Manager, Martin Coney on 028 95982748.

New planted areas provided as part of the Department for Communities Courts' Project have, after a very long delay, been tidied up by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE).

Despite requests from LOCA, the NIHE allowed the planted areas to become overgrown with weeds and covered in litter.

It is good to see new grass, bark ground cover and  plants in place. Lets hope NIHE Grounds' Maintenance look after it in the future.